On Nov. 21, 2004, European Union defense ministers agreed to create 13 “battle groups” to help Europe take on a more active role in hotspots around the world, primarily in UN-mandated missions.
“The European Union has entered a new stage in the process of strengthening military capabilities,” read a statement from EU defense ministers (www.EUobserver.com, Nov. 22, 2004).
These forces, to be operational by 2007, will be manned by 1,000-1,500 each in order to respond within 10 days of a unanimous decision from EU leaders.
Each group will have a force headquarters and will be headed by a “lead nation.” Troops from France, Italy, Spain and Britain will each form their own group, while the other nine will be formed by a blend of countries’ troops—including some of each of the above-mentioned countries.
Some analysts have tried to dismiss this latest development, since the forces comprise only about one third of the EU’s original goal. One think tank presumed that “they will be too small to do anything but act as an arm of UN or nato operations” (Stratfor, Nov. 22, 2004). But growing discreetly and working under the umbrella of UN and nato operations are typical of EU military enlargement, as we have documented in our free booklet The Rising Beast.
This endeavor to form battle groups will add to the rising power of the European Union. Plus, the EU continues to show a trend of giving its power to only a few key nations. This mentality was prophesied in the Bible, which prophesies that the final resurrection of the Roman Empire will be comprised of 10 nations or 10 groups of nations.